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The Hajj (Arabic حج‎) is the traditional Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca. Most pilgrims also visit other holy sites, notably Medina where the Prophet lived and taught from when he was driven out of Mecca until his triumphant return.

The Hajj can only be completed during the Islamic month of Dhu al-Hijjah. A pilgrimage to Mecca at any other time is known as Umrah (عمرة), and while not compulsory is highly recommended.

Understand

The Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam; every adult Muslim is supposed to do it at some time in his or her life if health and finances permit. In poorer areas it is not uncommon for whole families or even whole villages to chip in to send one person.

It is also one of the largest human migrations. Every year over two million people visit Saudi Arabia for this pilgrimage. Since they all arrive at roughly the same time and visit the same places in the same order, and since a large number of Saudis go as well, this is a major logistical problem. The Saudi government has a ministry to manage it.

WARNING: The Hajj is intended for Muslims only, and the territory around Mecca and Medina is off-limits to non-Muslims. If you are a non-Muslim and you do manage to enter anyway, it is considered sacrilege and, if discovered, the penalty can be a prison sentence and deportation. But since any person can convert to Islam, any person may enter Mecca and Medina upon entering the fold of Islam thus becoming a Muslim.

Nonetheless, a few Western explorers have managed the journey — most notably, Sir Richard Burton made the Hajj in 1853 and wrote an account of the trip.

Prepare

Unless you are a citizen of Saudi Arabia you will need a visa, obtained in advance from a Saudi embassy. Visas are allocated on a quota system, based on the number of Muslims in a country. You may need to provide evidence that you are Muslim, such as a letter from your local mosque.

Women under 45 are required to travel with a mahram, a related adult male who is the head of her family (usually a husband or father), and proof of the relationship is required. Women over 45 may travel without a mahram if they're in an organized group and have a letter of permission from the man who would be her mahram.

Proof of vaccination for meningitis (specifically the ACYW135 vaccine) between three years before and ten days before your entry into Saudi Arabia is required. Yellow fever vaccination is required if you arrive from any country with known yellow fever infections, and polio vaccinations are required for children up to 15. As millions of people from all over the world gather for Hajj and therefore you will be exposed to many diseases, you may want to discuss other vaccinations and preventative measures with your doctor.

Get in

Historically, people made the pilgrimage by camel caravan or by ship. It took months, even years, and was very dangerous.

Today, most pilgrims arrive via the airport at Jeddah. There are two special Hajj terminals, the largest buildings (by roof area) in the world. They are enormous tents of fiberglass fabric on reinforced concrete poles and steel cables. At Hajj time, there are dozens of large aircraft parked alongside these terminals.

From Jeddah — for most pilgrims, directly from the airport — there are buses to Mecca. Buses are also used for the trip to Medina; Saudi Arabia has not had a railway since the First World War.

Route

The Hajj route in and around Mecca

Once at Mecca, the traditional Hajj route is as follows:

Miqat, or changing into the pilgrims' ihram clothes

Tawaf az-Ziyarah, walking around the Kaaba four times at a fast pace and three times at a slow pace, and Sa`y, walking seven times back and forth between the hills of Safa and Marwah (both rituals within the Masjid al-Haram)

On the 10th, the stoning of the jamraat, throwing seven pebbles at the large wall representing the Devil, followed by the sacrifice of an animal (often performed by proxy by buying a sacrifice voucher in Mecca)

On the 10th or 11th, Tawaf az-Ziyarah, repeating step 2

On the 11th and 12th, stoning of the jamraat, repeating step 6

Tawaf Widaa, a final circumambulation of the Kaaba

The first two steps are known as the "lesser Hajj" or Umrah, while the full course is known as the "greater Hajj" or al-Hajj al-Akbar.

Stay safe

Mecca is strict when it comes to enforcement of its laws especially during Hajj. Don't break the laws, eat/smoke during times of prayer, and be respectful. Be weary of theft as some use the large crowds to pickpocket or take your items. Also, keep in mind that people die yearly because they get trampled from the large groups of people rushing to prayer.

Get out

Hajj and Umrah visas are strictly limited to Mecca, Medina, Mina, Arafah and Muzdalifah. Traveling anywhere else in Saudi Arabia will require an additional travel permit, which is difficult and time-consuming to obtain, and is rarely granted without good reason (eg. medical emergencies).

Expats living in Saudi Arabia can get good deals on flights out of the country at Hajj. With all the pilgrims coming in, airlines from any country with a lot of Muslims—most places between Nigeria and Indonesia — offer large discounts to avoid flying home with empty planes.